I got the okay from my husband to use some of the tax money to set up a bada$$ nano. Buttt I can't decide between the Fluval Spec or Spec III or Spec V or some of the Aqueon Evolves. And petco is running a sale so I need to decide by this Thursday which one to get!

His only request is that it is neat and relatively self contained. And that it houses some "cool looking shrimp not just the plain ole red ones" Apparently he's bored with my PFRs haha

I would like to keep medium light plants and maybe at some point to make this high tech. I have not been able to find a definitive answer as to what the stock lights for any of the above tanks will be able to grow. I would like to keep this generally cost friendly and not have to invest money in other equipment, I understand that a lighting upgrade may have to happen though.

If I keep it budget friendly enough I might be able to pull off getting 2 tanks, as I have had to shut down my 10 gallon earlier this month and will have to shut down my 20H as soon as I get the nano.

So I need some serious help with what to buy!!!

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Last edited by Barbgirl; 02-28-2013 at 10:12 PM..
Reason: Changed title

Dry ferts from nilcog (his premixed just add water ones)
Cholla wood from ???
IAL from H4n
PB regulator from aquatek (I already have the DIY setup but hate the inconsistency. Luckily it was free so no $ was dumped into that)

Can't decide on substrate. I have only used eco complete and sand in the past. But my pH sits around 7 so might look into something that will lower it. Although I know the tigers like the high pH and I am more interested in the tigers than CRS/CBS.

Congratulations! I can't speak of the Fluval tanks, but I did recently pick up an Evolve4. I really like it so far. Don't know if the stock light is sufficient enough yet, as my plants have only been in there since yesterday.

Okay, so after lots of thinking and going back and forth and input from the husband it looks like I will be getting...........Two Evolve 8s! One will be set up immediately and one will have to wait a bit.

So any info that anyone has on these would be great!!

Mostly just curious if the stock LED will be enough to grow moss and other low light plants.

Have you looked at the Eheim Aquastyle? It's a little more but has a better light than the Aqueon and it's glass. It's also a solid 4g/6g/9g since there's no "sump" section. Personally I don't see the advantage of going with an acrylic tank of that size. More pain than it's worth. I could see the plant substrate scratching it up. Just my .02. I'd go with a fluval over the Aqueon unless you really need to hit a price point...and if that's an issue I'd save up more, lol.

I'd recommend the Spec V. I've had it for about a month, and I'm overall very Impressed. How ever, there are some downsides. The light might not be strong enough for a planted tank, and the screw that attaches the light is flimsy, and if you strip it, your light will sag. Also, the top is plastic, and not glass, and I keep managing to step on it when I take it off to clean. But. The filter is very strong, and the back compartment is great for hiding a heater or CO2 injection nozzle. It also looks fantastic and is perfectly dimensioned. If you look around on the site, a few guys have them and have done some SERIOUSLY sweet stuff with them. PM me if you plan to have a betta in it, and I can let you know how to tone down the filter a little (it cycles a LOT of water).

I know I am definitely getting an Evolve 8 for my moss and shrimp tank. I like having 8 gallons to work with vs anything smaller just for water quality purposes. It's still small enough to be just barely a nano but large enough to keep it more stable. I am leaning more towards a second one for my high tech as well. But am still slightly considering the Spec V.

The acrylic doesn't really bother me. Not going for the high priced looked haha. More function over form here. I also like the dimensions of the Evolve, not sure I like that the Spec V is only 6in wide. As for the sump section, it is a must have so as much as I like the Eheims they are a no go.

I know that no matter tanks I get lighting upgrades are a must. But I am thinking that if I get two Evolve 8s that I can take the light from both and put them both on a single tank. Which is hopefully more than enough to grow the moss and crypts I want. Meaning I would only have to upgrade one light versus both.

For the lighting upgrade I am looking at Fugeray as I really like the LEDs versus the bulbs

And it looks like I will be getting yellow neos for the shrimp tank and maybe someday adding OEBT (blue ones not the black ones). Which means I will be using sand or eco complete, both of which I have already.

My tap water is something like:

pH 6.8 - 7.2
gH 2 (which I will need to raise)
kH 3

and I don't have a TDS meter so no clue about that one. And with neos I'm not too worries haha.

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